The Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993, as amended by Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act, No. 181 of 1993) stipulates:

"To provide for the health and safety of persons at work and for the health and safety of persons in connection with the use of plant and machinery; the protection of persons other than persons at work against hazards to health and safety arising out of or in connection with the activities of persons at work".

Any student using any of the undergraduate labs of the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer engineering, should please take note of the following usage rules. These are strictly enforced.

Record is kept of offenders.

First offence: access to all departmental laboratories will be cancelled for one week if any of these rules are not adhered to.

Second offence: The case will be referred to UP Legal Services for disciplinary action, and the student will be expelled from all departmental laboratories at least until the outcome of a disciplinary hearing is known.  

All of these rules apply 24/7.

• Food in the labs: No food or liquids are allowed in the laboratories at any time.
• Music and video in the labs: No radios or other music reproducing devices are allowed in any Departmental laboratories at any time, whether with or without earphones, The viewing of any video content is prohibited, unless part of a formal class.
• Loud talking or other noise in the labs: The laboratory is a learning environment and students will not be allowed to disturb others. The laboratories are not social venues and may not be used as such. No loud talking or any other noise or disturbance to fellow students is allowed.
• Behaviour in the labs: Students are expected to act professionally. No unruly behaviour will be tolerated in the laboratories.
• Clothing in the labs: For security reasons, no caps or hats (including Beanies) may be worn in the laboratories.
• Student cards: For security reasons, student cards must be worn in the labs at all times(attached to clothing above the waist) and must clearly visible. Students are obliged to produce their student card on the request of any member of personnel.
• Shoes: Closed shoes must be worn in ALL laboratories at all times.
• Instructions by a lab instructor: students are obliged to carry out any instructions from a lab instructor (unless these violate any of the other rules, or could potentially create an unsafe situation). If you are instructed to leave the lab, do so immediately.
• Signs: Take note of the “prohibited” signs in the laboratory.
• Lab usage:
  • After use, resistors and capacitors must be returned to their correct designated trays.
  • Components that had been distributed, must be handed in at the end of the practical.
  • Connecting wire must also be returned.
  • Soldering irons without proper stands are prohibited.
  • Benches must be switched off at the end of the practical.
  • Chairs should be pushed in under the bench after use.
  • Tidy up your bench after use (remove all papers, cut-off wires etc.)
  • Defective equipment must be reported to the person in charge of the specific laboratory, with a description of the problem including your contact details should further information be needed. Remember to include the lab and bench number!
• Note: Laboratories are intended for module-related experimental work where lab instruments are needed, and not for ANY other use. No labs may be used as a study center.

Complaints procedure. Students that wish to report incidents or non-compliance with these rules, should send an email or report incidents personally to Mr Helmut Schütte (Lab A, Lab B, Lab C and Project Lab 1) or Mr Willem van Jaarsveld (NetLab A, NetLab B, CAEC and Project Lab 2) or Mr Mickey Marimuthu (Lab M) as soon as possible, but not more than 24 hours after the incident has occurred. Provide detail such as incident, time, place, and name of students involved where available.